Editorial: Pats' season ends too soon

Tuesday

Dec 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMDec 30, 2008 at 1:09 AM

There is no justice in the National Football League. What else can we conclude when the San Diego Chargers are headed for the playoffs having lost as many games as they won, while the New England Patriots, with 11 wins against five losses, will be watching the post-season action on TV?

There is no justice in the National Football League. What else can we conclude when the San Diego Chargers are headed for the playoffs having lost as many games as they won, while the New England Patriots, with 11 wins against five losses, will be watching the post-season action on TV?

NFL tie-breakers can be heart-breakers, but they should not spoil our appreciation for this year's Patriots. Depleted by injuries, cornered in the standings by games they might have won, dependent on other teams to punch their postseason tickets, they did what they had to do, including winning the last four games on their schedule.

Best of all is the story of Matt Cassel, the lifelong understudy who, given his shot, acted like a star. When Tom Brady, the NFL's best quarterback, suffered a season-ending injury in the first game, most people wrote off the Patriots' hopes. But Cassel, who backed up great quarterbacks through his college and pro career, took the handoff and surprised everyone.

New England fans didn't feel comfortable Sunday, rooting for the Jets to clear the Pats' way to a playoff berth, and the Jets disappointed us again. It will be strange for fans - not to mention the players - to watch the parade to the Super Bowl from the sidelines.

But we'll survive, with fresh memories of three Super Bowl wins and a perfect 16-0 season to tide us over. Compared to fans of the Detroit Lions, who made history Sunday by finishing the season without a single victory, Pats fans have nothing to complain about.

So hold your head high as you hang up your Patriots gear for the season, and look around you: Have you noticed the Celtics have the best record in the NBA and the Bruins are tied for the most wins in the NHL? When it comes to sports in New England, there is no off-season.

The MetroWest Daily News

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